Electric switch.



IVI. HOFFMANN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APRLICATION FILED IAN. la. 191e.

INVENTOR 2 SHEMHEET 1.

Patamed;A5913y 3, A1917.

WITNESS I I 'jg'.

Luk-

ATTOH N EY M. HOFFMANN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

`APPLICAHON FILED 1AN.18.\916.

l Lm. mmm@ Apr. 3,1917.

L' SHEETS-SHEET 2l INVENTOPI www@ ATTHNEV MICHAEL HFMANN, OF IVANHOE, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOB. F ONE-HALF T0 WALTER J'. DALTON ONE-SIXTH TO FRANK It. KLUCIZNY, BOTH 0F IVANHOE, MINNESOTA.

ELECTRIC SWITCH. A

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented am. a, iai t.

Application filed January 18, 1916. Serial No. 72,783.

To all whom i may coacem.

Be it known that l, MICHAEL HOFFMANN, a citizenof the United States, residing at livanhoe, in the county of Lincoln and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and 'useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in an electric switch and more particularly toa combination lock switch.

The primary object `of the invention is the provision oi' an electric switch for closing a circuit which can only he operated by a person couver-sant with the combination to which the terminals of the electric wires are connected.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a switch of this character which is simple vand inexpensive inconstruction andlwhich muy be used with the ignition apparatus of automobiles or motor driven vehicles and will prevent the unlawful use ciS motor vehicles which may be temporarily leftin public thoroughfares, or other places. llVith these and other objects in view the 'invention consists in the novel details of construction and arrangement of parts which will be moreclearly understood from the following description and drawings, in which i Figure 1 is a i'ragmental top plan view of the interior or'fan automobile, showing my improved switch applied to the dashboard thereof,

Fig. 2 isa top plan view ofthe switch,

Fig. 3 is a vplan view of the contact plate showing the switch arms, and

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section through the switch. l fio ln the drawings the letter A indicates the dashboard of a motor driven vehicle and my switch is designated generallyby 'the letter B.

My switch comprises a base plate 1 which t5 mayA "ne of any desired insulating material and has a plurality of metal disks embedded in the top face thereof and held in'. position by means of\\the bolts 8 which pass through the base 1 and engage the disks 2.l These contact disks 2 are preferably arranged in a circle and\there is an inner and outer row thereof, as is more particularly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The wires of the ignition system are indicated at 4: and 5 and are adapted to be connected to any of the'bolt's 3 which are connected to the contact disks 2. The wire 4: is adapted to be connected to one ofthe bolts forming a 'part ofthe inner circle and the wiret may be attached to one of the bolts formingVV a part of the outer circle of contacts. As

is clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the contact disks 2 extend above the top of the insulating plate l.

A plurality of posts 6 are connected to 65 the base 1 and support the top plate 7 of my switch. This top plate 7 'is provided with a plurality of openings, indicated at 8, adapted to receive bolts or other suitable fastening means for securing the switch to the dashboard. The plate 7 is provided with a central depressed portion having an opening therein thereby formino -an inwardly extending flange indicated at 9 and the purpose of which will be presently described.. A plate 10 is adapted to be received uponthe plate 9 and is also provided with a central Adepression having an opening therein, thereby forming an inwardly eX- tending flange 11 upon which is received a 80 plate 12 having a central opening therein.

A bolt 13 is adapted to pass through the central opening of the plate 2 and also through a central opening in the base l. This bolt is provided on the upper end with a knob or handle 14 and a cotter pin 15 is adapted to pass through an opening in the lower end thereby holding the bolt in posi tion. A knob or handle 16 is secured to the plate 10 in any desired manner and the pur- 90 pose of which will be'presently described.

A sleeve 17 is connected to the bolt 13 iir any suitable manner and has a spring contact arm 18 formed on the lower end there of and adapted to contact with the contact disks 2 of the inner circle of disks. A sleeve 19 is rotatably mounted upon the sleeve 17 and has an arm extending at right angles thereto as indicated at 20 andfrom which depends a contact arm 21 adapted to en- -100 gage with the `contact disks 2 of the outer circle of disks. The arm 20 is adapted to be secured to theunderside of the disks 10 as clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

The top plate 7 is provided with two rows 105 of letters or figures, letters `being shown in Fig. 2 of thedrawings, and each of the 'plates 10 and 12 are provided with a mark which mav be used in forming a part of the combinatibn. 11o

understood.

ll'aving fully described the details of construction it is thought that the ad 'antages and operation of my switch will be clearly The switch is adapted to be connected to the dashboard of the vehicle by means of bolts or other suitable fastening means passing through the openings 8 in the top `plate 7 By this arrangement the lower base plate 1 may be inserted through an opening in the dashboard whereby the top plate will lie substantially flush therewith. When the contact arms 1S 'and 2l are in the position illustrated in Figs. 3 and -t of the drawings, the eirci'lit is closed and the ignition apparatus can operate. Should the owner ot' the vehicle desire to temporarily leave the same, the circuit may be broken by taking hold ot the knobs or handles llt and 16 and rotating the plates 10 and 1Q., respectively. By this operation the contact arms are removed from those contact disks Q connected with the wire terminalstand the circuit is thereby broken. Then it i`A again desired to operate the vehicle it can e1 ly be done by closing the circuit and this in n be y done only by the person knowing tle elpmbination otl the switch.

tated until lthe 'right combination is secured and then the circuit will be again closed and the ignition apparatus ca-n operate. By yproviding the depressions in the top plate 7 and in the plate 10, all parts of the top will be Hush and thereby give a neat appearance. The combination can easily be changed by merely connecting the wires 4C and 5 to dif ferent bolts 3.

The. disks can be ro-l knob, the stai being disposed coaxially with the supporting and dielectric plates, a

bracket secured to the rotatable plate having a sleeve at one end circumposed on and spaced from the statt, the bracket having at the other end a contact arm adapted to- *engage one of the rows of the contacts, a

second sleeve disposed between the first named sleeve and the statt, the second sleeve bein?. removably secured to the statt and including a contact arm for engaging the other of the rows of thc contacts, a washer tor the staff arranged to rest in the recess of the rotatable -platc and support the knob of the staff, and aA cotter pin for the statt' to retain the staff, washer, and rotatable plate in position.

In `testimony whereof I alix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MICHAEL HOFFMANN.

Witnesses:

F. R. KLUCZNY, L. V. IVIDNEARK. 

